Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity

Healthy Pantries, Healthy Patrons

MEND launched its Healthy Pantries, Healthy Patrons program in 2016. This program addresses challenges faced by food pantries and their patrons in accessing fresh and healthy foods, and is based on our belief that all people should have access to fresh and healthy foods, regardless of socio-economic status.

Help-a-Family

During the holidays we sponsor a unique program called “Help-a-Family”, which started more than 30 years ago when we realized there would be families in our service area who would not be able to celebrate a traditional holiday without some outside support.

Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity

MEND is an interfaith network of 17 member food pantries located throughout Essex County, NJ.

MEND strengthens and supports its food pantry network by providing supplemental food, funds, volunteers, and a monthly forum for collaboration. MEND also advocates for policies to improve the quality of life for those in need in the County.

17

117,679

37%

17.4%

138,040

Estimated number of Essex County population who are ‘food insecure”

25,000

Pounds of fresh food distributed through Healthy Pantries, Healthy Patrons Program in 2017

Stories

Sixty-two year old Peggy* is disabled and has been getting by with the help of SSI benefits. In the spring, tragedy struck her family when her son was shot and killed. After the shooting, Peggy took custody of her twelve-year-old granddaughter, Tessa*. She is grateful to be able to care for Tessa, but making ends meet is a struggle. At her local MEND pantry, Peggy receives much-needed groceries. And during this holiday season, MEND’s Help–A-Family Program allowed Peggy to shop for groceries and prepare a delicious holiday dinner. And Tessa celebrated the holidays with new clothing wrapped and waiting for her!

The big Thanksgiving distribution at the food pantry went well and the volunteers went home tired but relieved they were had enough turkeys on hand for all 250 families who came that day. A few days later, when Ellen was preparing her own Thanksgiving dinner, she heard a ping from her phone with a very unexpected text message. There was a photo showing a full plate of traditional Thanksgiving foods, including turkey and all the sides. The words that followed were from one of the pantry’s patrons, a mom who said thank you so much for helping me feed my family on this special day!

When Kate returned to volunteer at her local pantry, she learned things had changed a lot in the decade since she’d last been involved. The two dozen regulars had grown to more than one hundred – and so many younger families with children! Food donations had grown too; but not enough to meet the needs of so many families. As Kate looked at the bare pantry shelves, panic set in. What would she say to the families coming to the pantry on Saturday? She called MEND and within a day, a small truck arrived at the pantry filled with essential grocery items. Kate and the other volunteers were able to restock the pantry in time to serve every one of their families in need.

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